Difference between revisions of "Vayu"
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+ | [[Vāyu]] ([[Sanskrit]], [[Sanskrit]] pronunciation: [ʋaːyu]) is a primary [[Hindu deity]], the [[lord of the winds]], the father of {{Wiki|Bhima}} and the [[spiritual]] father of [[Hanuman]]. | ||
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+ | He is also known as [[Vāta]], [[Pavana]] ("the [[Purifier]]"), and sometimes [[Prāṇa]] ("the [[breath]]"). | ||
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+ | Connotations | ||
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+ | The [[word]] for [[air]] ([[vāyu]]) or [[wind]] ([[pavana]]) is one of the [[classical elements in Hinduism]]. | ||
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+ | The [[Sanskrit]] [[word]] '[[Vāta]]' literally means "blown", '[[Vāyu]]' "blower", and [[Prāna]] "[[breathing]]" (viz. the [[breath of life]], cf. the *an- in 'animate'). | ||
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+ | Hence, the primary referent of the [[word]] is the "[[deity]] of [[Life]]", who is sometimes for clarity referred to as "[[Mukhya-Vāyu]]" (the chief [[Vāyu]]) or "[[Mukhya Prāna]]" (the chief of [[Life]]). | ||
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+ | Sometimes the [[word]] "[[vāyu]]," which is more generally used in the [[sense]] of the [[physical]] [[air]] or [[wind]], is used as a {{Wiki|synonym}} for "[[prāna]]". | ||
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+ | [[Vāta]], an additional [[name]] for [[Vāyu]], is the [[root]] of the [[Sanskrit]] and {{Wiki|Hindi}} term for "{{Wiki|atmosphere}}", [[vātāvaran]]. | ||
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+ | [[Pavan]] is also a fairly common [[Hindu]] [[name]]. | ||
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+ | [[Pavana]] played an important role in [[Anjana's]] begetting [[Hanuman]] as her child so [[Hanuman]] is also called [[Pavanaputra]] "son of [[Pavana]]" and Vāyuputra. | ||
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+ | In the [[Mahabharata]], {{Wiki|Bhima}} was the son and an [[incarnation]] of [[Vāyu]] and played a major role in the {{Wiki|Kurukshetra War}}. He utilised his huge power and skill with the mace for supporting [[Dharma]]. | ||
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+ | {{Wiki|Hindu texts}} and [[philosophy]] | ||
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+ | In the hymns, {{Wiki|Vayu}} is "described as having '[[exceptional beauty]]' and moving noisily in his shining coach, driven by two or forty-nine or one-thousand white and purple [[horses]]. | ||
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+ | A white [[banner]] is his main attribute." Like the other atmospheric [[deities]], he is a "fighter and destroyer", "powerful and heroic." | ||
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+ | In the [[Wikipedia:Upanishads|Upanishads]], there are numerous statements and illustrations of the greatness of [[Vāyu]]. | ||
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+ | The [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] states that the [[gods]] who control [[bodily]] functions once engaged in a contest to determine who among them is the greatest. | ||
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+ | When a [[deity]] such as that of [[vision]] would leave a man's [[body]], that man would continue to live, albeit as a [[blind]] man and having regained the lost {{Wiki|faculty}} once the errant [[deity]] returned to his post. | ||
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+ | One by one the [[deities]] all took their turns leaving the [[body]], but the man continued to live on, though [[successively]] impaired in various ways. | ||
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+ | Finally, when [[Mukhya Prāna]] started to leave the [[body]], all the other [[deities]] started to be inexorably pulled off their posts by force, "just as a powerful [[horse]] yanks off pegs in the ground to which he is [[bound]]." | ||
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+ | This [[caused]] the other [[deities]] to realize that they can function only when [[empowered]] by {{Wiki|Vayu}}, and can be overpowered by him easily. | ||
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+ | In another episode, [[Vāyu]] is said to be the only [[deity]] not afflicted by {{Wiki|demons}} of [[sin]] who were on the attack. | ||
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+ | The [[Chandogya Upanishad]] states that one cannot know [[Brahman]] except by [[knowing]] [[Vāyu]] as the udgitha (the [[mantric]] {{Wiki|syllable}} om). | ||
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+ | [[Mukhya-Vāyu]] also [[incarnated]] as [[Madhvacharya]] to teach [[worthy]] [[souls]] to {{Wiki|worship}} the [[Supreme God]] [[Vishnu]].[citation needed] | ||
+ | [[Buddhism]] | ||
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+ | In the [[Buddhism]] of the [[Far East]], {{Wiki|Vayu}} is one of the [[twelve Devas]], as [[guardian deities]], who are found in or around [[Buddhist shrines]] ([[Jūni-ten]], [[十二天)]]. | ||
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+ | In [[Japan]], he has been called "[[Fu-ten]]". | ||
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+ | He joins these other eleven [[Devas]] of [[Buddhism]], found in [[Japan]] and other parts of [[southeast]] {{Wiki|Asia}}: | ||
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+ | [[Indra]] ([[Taishaku-ten]]), [[Agni]] ([[Ka-ten]]), [[Yama]] ([[Emma-ten]]), Nirrti ([[Rasetsu-ten]]), {{Wiki|Vayu}} ([[Fu-ten]]), [[Ishana]] ([[Ishana-ten]]), [[Kubera]] ([[Tamon-ten]]), {{Wiki|Varuna}} ([[Sui-ten]]) [[Brahma]] ([[Bon-ten]]), [[Prithvi]] ([[Chi-ten]]), [[Surya]] ([[Nit-ten]]), [[Chandra]] (G[[at-ten]]). | ||
+ | {{W}} | ||
+ | [[Category:Five elements]] |
Latest revision as of 17:44, 17 January 2016
Vāyu (Sanskrit, Sanskrit pronunciation: [ʋaːyu]) is a primary Hindu deity, the lord of the winds, the father of Bhima and the spiritual father of Hanuman.
He is also known as Vāta, Pavana ("the Purifier"), and sometimes Prāṇa ("the breath").
Connotations
The word for air (vāyu) or wind (pavana) is one of the classical elements in Hinduism.
The Sanskrit word 'Vāta' literally means "blown", 'Vāyu' "blower", and Prāna "breathing" (viz. the breath of life, cf. the *an- in 'animate').
Hence, the primary referent of the word is the "deity of Life", who is sometimes for clarity referred to as "Mukhya-Vāyu" (the chief Vāyu) or "Mukhya Prāna" (the chief of Life).
Sometimes the word "vāyu," which is more generally used in the sense of the physical air or wind, is used as a synonym for "prāna".
Vāta, an additional name for Vāyu, is the root of the Sanskrit and Hindi term for "atmosphere", vātāvaran.
Pavan is also a fairly common Hindu name.
Pavana played an important role in Anjana's begetting Hanuman as her child so Hanuman is also called Pavanaputra "son of Pavana" and Vāyuputra.
In the Mahabharata, Bhima was the son and an incarnation of Vāyu and played a major role in the Kurukshetra War. He utilised his huge power and skill with the mace for supporting Dharma.
In the hymns, Vayu is "described as having 'exceptional beauty' and moving noisily in his shining coach, driven by two or forty-nine or one-thousand white and purple horses.
A white banner is his main attribute." Like the other atmospheric deities, he is a "fighter and destroyer", "powerful and heroic."
In the Upanishads, there are numerous statements and illustrations of the greatness of Vāyu.
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad states that the gods who control bodily functions once engaged in a contest to determine who among them is the greatest.
When a deity such as that of vision would leave a man's body, that man would continue to live, albeit as a blind man and having regained the lost faculty once the errant deity returned to his post.
One by one the deities all took their turns leaving the body, but the man continued to live on, though successively impaired in various ways.
Finally, when Mukhya Prāna started to leave the body, all the other deities started to be inexorably pulled off their posts by force, "just as a powerful horse yanks off pegs in the ground to which he is bound."
This caused the other deities to realize that they can function only when empowered by Vayu, and can be overpowered by him easily.
In another episode, Vāyu is said to be the only deity not afflicted by demons of sin who were on the attack.
The Chandogya Upanishad states that one cannot know Brahman except by knowing Vāyu as the udgitha (the mantric syllable om).
Mukhya-Vāyu also incarnated as Madhvacharya to teach worthy souls to worship the Supreme God Vishnu.[citation needed]
Buddhism
In the Buddhism of the Far East, Vayu is one of the twelve Devas, as guardian deities, who are found in or around Buddhist shrines (Jūni-ten, 十二天).
In Japan, he has been called "Fu-ten".
He joins these other eleven Devas of Buddhism, found in Japan and other parts of southeast Asia:
Indra (Taishaku-ten), Agni (Ka-ten), Yama (Emma-ten), Nirrti (Rasetsu-ten), Vayu (Fu-ten), Ishana (Ishana-ten), Kubera (Tamon-ten), Varuna (Sui-ten) Brahma (Bon-ten), Prithvi (Chi-ten), Surya (Nit-ten), Chandra (Gat-ten).